Bioremediation and Genetically Modified Organisms

Abstract

Progressive advances in biotechnology and molecular biology have allowed using the new methods for decontamination and promising an improved substitute for ineffective and costly physicochemical remediation methods. Genetic engineering techniques make the combination of several metabolic aptitudes within microorganisms and plants for impressive degradation of hazardous environmental pollutants. In particular, the engineering and environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms has run into both technical and ethical obstacles, leading to severe constraints for their effective application in pollutant sites. In contrast, phytoremediation by genetically engineered plants for removal of xenobiotics can be an alternate/supplementary method. They may be seen as more environmentally friendly, since these bioremediators will not be intended as human or animal foods, so that food safety, allergenicity, and labeling are not relevant issues. In addition, their solidarity with rhizospheric microorganisms such as mycorrhizal fungi for removing or degrading toxic pollutants and for enhancing the availability of recalcitrant pollutants can open new vistas for getting rid of human from such own-born disasters.KeywordsTransgenic PlantGenome ShufflingGenetic Engineering TechniqueGenetic Engineering ApproachPentaerythritol TetranitrateThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.